DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.30695#0192
98
THEOLOGY.
[PJister,
The History of Judith immediately follows, with a wood-cut at,
top, in manner similar to the foregoing ones : having- this title below :
^it fjefct gicf) att ttie *)i£torij Slufcitf)*
Fifteen lines are beneath. The history comprises fifteen leaves, em-
bellislied with fourteen cuts. The thirteenth cut is borrowed from one
in the History of Joseph; and of the fourteenth, there is a feeble fac-
simile published by Camus at tlie end of his description of this work
in the Memoires de Vlnstitut.
The History of Esther is the next and last subject here treated
of. It commences under a wood-cut, thus :
tyic ijcBt £icij an fcie fjigtotij Ipeater*
Fifteen lines, as usual, are beneath. The tract comprehends four-
teen leaves, and has fifteen wood-cuts : some of them of a singularly
rude and interesting character. On the recto of the fourteenth leaf,
we have tlie following poetical colophon, printed as prose. It is of
great consequence in the history of early printing.*
* I subjoin, for the amusement of the curious, a metrical English version of this Ger-
man colophon, executed after the ancient manner, by a modern hand. Both colophons
are here placed side by side.
Ein ittlich mensch von herzen gert
Das er wer weisz vnd wol gelert
An meister vnd schrift das nit mag sein
So kun wir all auch nit Latein
Darauff han ich ein teil gedacht
Und vier historij zu samen pracht
Joseph Daniel um’ auch Judith
Und Hester auch mit gutem sith
Die vier het got in seiner hut
Als er noch ye den guten thut
Dar durch wir pessern vnser leben
Den puchlein ist sein ende geben
Czu bambergk in der selben stat
Das Albrecht Pfister gedrucket hat
Do tnan zalt tausent vnd vierhundert iar
In zweiundsechzigsten das ist war
Nat lang nach sand Walpurgen tag
Die vns wold gnad erberben mag
Frid vnd das ewig leben
Das wolle vns got allen geben
Amen.
Each man with cagerness desires
To learn, and to be wise aspires.
But books and masters make us so;
And all men cannot Latin know.
Thereon I have for sometime thought,
And Hjstories four together brought:
Joseph and Daniel andJuDiTH
With good intent; Esther therewith.
To these did God protection give,
As now to all who godly live.
If by it we our lives amend
This little book hath gain’d its end.
Which certainly in Bamberg town
By Albert Pfister’s press was done;
In fourteen hundred sixty two,
As men now reckon: that is true:
Soon after good St. Walburgh’sday:
Whom to procure for us, we pray,
Peace and eternal life to live;
The which to all of us God give.
(R. W. W.) Amen.
THEOLOGY.
[PJister,
The History of Judith immediately follows, with a wood-cut at,
top, in manner similar to the foregoing ones : having- this title below :
^it fjefct gicf) att ttie *)i£torij Slufcitf)*
Fifteen lines are beneath. The history comprises fifteen leaves, em-
bellislied with fourteen cuts. The thirteenth cut is borrowed from one
in the History of Joseph; and of the fourteenth, there is a feeble fac-
simile published by Camus at tlie end of his description of this work
in the Memoires de Vlnstitut.
The History of Esther is the next and last subject here treated
of. It commences under a wood-cut, thus :
tyic ijcBt £icij an fcie fjigtotij Ipeater*
Fifteen lines, as usual, are beneath. The tract comprehends four-
teen leaves, and has fifteen wood-cuts : some of them of a singularly
rude and interesting character. On the recto of the fourteenth leaf,
we have tlie following poetical colophon, printed as prose. It is of
great consequence in the history of early printing.*
* I subjoin, for the amusement of the curious, a metrical English version of this Ger-
man colophon, executed after the ancient manner, by a modern hand. Both colophons
are here placed side by side.
Ein ittlich mensch von herzen gert
Das er wer weisz vnd wol gelert
An meister vnd schrift das nit mag sein
So kun wir all auch nit Latein
Darauff han ich ein teil gedacht
Und vier historij zu samen pracht
Joseph Daniel um’ auch Judith
Und Hester auch mit gutem sith
Die vier het got in seiner hut
Als er noch ye den guten thut
Dar durch wir pessern vnser leben
Den puchlein ist sein ende geben
Czu bambergk in der selben stat
Das Albrecht Pfister gedrucket hat
Do tnan zalt tausent vnd vierhundert iar
In zweiundsechzigsten das ist war
Nat lang nach sand Walpurgen tag
Die vns wold gnad erberben mag
Frid vnd das ewig leben
Das wolle vns got allen geben
Amen.
Each man with cagerness desires
To learn, and to be wise aspires.
But books and masters make us so;
And all men cannot Latin know.
Thereon I have for sometime thought,
And Hjstories four together brought:
Joseph and Daniel andJuDiTH
With good intent; Esther therewith.
To these did God protection give,
As now to all who godly live.
If by it we our lives amend
This little book hath gain’d its end.
Which certainly in Bamberg town
By Albert Pfister’s press was done;
In fourteen hundred sixty two,
As men now reckon: that is true:
Soon after good St. Walburgh’sday:
Whom to procure for us, we pray,
Peace and eternal life to live;
The which to all of us God give.
(R. W. W.) Amen.